Manatee schools administrator, attorney put on leave

Manatee schools assistant superintendent Bob Gagnon, right, and Manatee High assistant Rod Frazier during a 2011 football game. Gagnon was placed on paid leave Monday, Aug. 5, 2013 by sheriff's deputies. Frazier has since resigned amid allegations he groped students and staff. Gagnon's role in the district's investigation is being examined.

Published: Monday, August 5, 2013 at 1:19 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, August 5, 2013 at 6:57 p.m.

MANATEE COUNTY - Two of the school district's top administrators — assistant superintendent Bob Gagnon and staff attorney Scott Martin — were placed on paid leave Monday as the district investigates groping allegations made against a former Manatee High School assistant football coach.

Facts

BOB GAGNON

Background: The former principal of Manatee High School was named assistant superintendent in 2012 after the high school jumped from a D to an A. He was displaced by two new deputy superintendents this year, but remains part of Superintendent Rick Mills' senior team in an unassigned position. His career began as a teacher and principal at the much-lauded Lake County Boy's Ranch. He became assistant director at the Police Athletic League Charter Schools of Manatee County shortly after, but was laid off in 2002. He went on to become assistant principal of Lakewood Ranch High and Palmetto High.

SCOTT MARTIN

Age: 42

Position: Staff attorney

Salary: $99,169

Background: Martin got his law degree from the University of Memphis. He worked as a law clerk in the Tennessee Supreme Court and as an associate attorney in the private sector, though he often did work for the Hillsborough County School Board. He was hired as a staff attorney here in 2010, and then promoted to Assistant Superintendent of District Support Services by former Superintendent Tim McGonegal in June 2011. He once again became staff attorney this spring after being displaced by new hires chosen by Superintendent Rick Mills.

Superintendent Rick Mills said he brought in student resource officers from the Sheriff's Office as a matter of precaution as Gagnon, 45, and Martin, 42, left the district administration building Monday morning.

The top administrators' paid leave comes about two weeks after new school investigator Troy Pumphrey reopened an internal investigation of groping allegations made against former coach Rod Frazier. Gagnon was formerly the principal at Manatee High and supervised Frazier.

Martin briefly led a quiet district investigation of Frazier after former school investigator Debra Horne abruptly transferred to an assistant principal position this past January. Police became involved on Feb. 7.

Both Gagnon and Martin rose quickly through the district ranks here, becoming assistant superintendents in recent years until being displaced by new leaders chosen by Mills this spring. Neither returned calls seeking comment.

It is unclear what prompted Monday's disciplinary action. School policy states that administrative leave can be granted, with or without pay, if a school district investigates misconduct or an employee has violated school policies.

“At the conclusion of the investigation, if disciplinary action is warranted, I will bring that before the School Board of Manatee County,” Mills said in a news release sent Monday afternoon. He declined further comment.

Frazier, 35, resigned on July 26, a week after prosecutors charged him with seven counts of battery for the unwanted touching of Manatee High female students and staff dating back to 2006. Frazier, also a parent liaison at the school, was also charged with three counts of interfering with students attendance. He has denied any wrongdoing.

The disciplinary action meted out by the school district may not end with Martin and Gagnon.

In April, police recommended that Gagnon and three other district administrators — Horne and former Manatee High assistant principals Gregg Faller and Matthew Kane — be charged with failing to report suspected child abuse, a third degree felony, and lying to police, a misdemeanor.

Horne oversaw a brief investigation last November when she interviewed several teachers about reports of misconduct between Frazier and female students. The investigation was closed after one day and Frazier was allowed back on campus.

Horne reopened her investigation on Jan. 9 after a mother delivered a letter to Manatee High in which her daughter accused Frazier of repeatedly groping her and asking for a nude photograph.

Horne requested a transfer to an assistant principal position on Jan. 24, and Martin took over the investigation, in addition to his duties as assistant superintendent.

At that time the district released scant information about the investigation and appeared to downplay the seriousness of the allegations.

On Feb. 5, Interim Superintendent David Gayler confirmed that there was an investigation but said it was “based on rumors and innuendos about inappropriate relationships with students.”

“This is an investigation that appears to be almost done,” Gayler said. “Scott agreed to finish it up for Deb.”

Martin also said at the time that the inquiry would wrap up soon. But the district halted the investigation after the police became involved on Feb. 7 — the same day the Herald-Tribune ran a story about the district's investigation of Frazier. Before then, neither police nor the state hot line had been notified about suspicion of child abuse, as required by law.

Police interviewed more than 50 parents, students and teachers about allegations of groping before making recommendations for charges in April.

Gagnon quickly ascended the school ranks in the Manatee County school district after starting as an assistant director for the Police Athletic League Charter School in 2000. After reportedly being laid off two years later, he served as assistant principal at Lakewood Ranch and Palmetto high schools,

In 2007, he was named principal of Manatee High School, where he was later lauded for bumping the school's state grade up from a D to an A in one year. In 2012, he was named assistant superintendent by former Superintendent Tim McGonegal.

McGonegal also recommended Martin's promotion from staff attorney to assistant superintendent in 2011, though it was protested by board members Julie Aranibar and Karen Carpenter.

Martin had been in the district for a year.

Both Martin and Gagnon were displaced from their assistant superintendent positions this spring when Mills hired new deputy superintendents shortly after starting here in March.

While Martin took over an empty staff attorney position, Gagnon remained an unassigned assistant superintendent because a clause he negotiated in his contract when he briefly served as interim superintendent protects him from losing his $124,000 position without cause.

Faller and Kane have transferred this year to Palmetto High and Southeast High, respectively. Horne remains an interim assistant principal at Prine Elementary, where she transferred to in January.

<p><em>MANATEE COUNTY</em> - Two of the school district's top administrators — assistant superintendent Bob Gagnon and staff attorney Scott Martin — were placed on paid leave Monday as the district investigates groping allegations made against a former Manatee High School assistant football coach.</p><p>Superintendent Rick Mills said he brought in student resource officers from the Sheriff's Office as a matter of precaution as Gagnon, 45, and Martin, 42, left the district administration building Monday morning.</p><p>The top administrators' paid leave comes about two weeks after new school investigator Troy Pumphrey reopened an internal investigation of groping allegations made against former coach Rod Frazier. Gagnon was formerly the principal at Manatee High and supervised Frazier.</p><p>Martin briefly led a quiet district investigation of Frazier after former school investigator Debra Horne abruptly transferred to an assistant principal position this past January. Police became involved on Feb. 7.</p><p>Both Gagnon and Martin rose quickly through the district ranks here, becoming assistant superintendents in recent years until being displaced by new leaders chosen by Mills this spring. Neither returned calls seeking comment.</p><p>It is unclear what prompted Monday's disciplinary action. School policy states that administrative leave can be granted, with or without pay, if a school district investigates misconduct or an employee has violated school policies.</p><p>“At the conclusion of the investigation, if disciplinary action is warranted, I will bring that before the School Board of Manatee County,” Mills said in a news release sent Monday afternoon. He declined further comment.</p><p>Frazier, 35, resigned on July 26, a week after prosecutors charged him with seven counts of battery for the unwanted touching of Manatee High female students and staff dating back to 2006. Frazier, also a parent liaison at the school, was also charged with three counts of interfering with students attendance. He has denied any wrongdoing.</p><p>The disciplinary action meted out by the school district may not end with Martin and Gagnon.</p><p>In April, police recommended that Gagnon and three other district administrators — Horne and former Manatee High assistant principals Gregg Faller and Matthew Kane — be charged with failing to report suspected child abuse, a third degree felony, and lying to police, a misdemeanor.</p><p>Prosecutors have yet to announce whether they plan to charge anyone else besides Frazier.</p><p>Horne oversaw a brief investigation last November when she interviewed several teachers about reports of misconduct between Frazier and female students. The investigation was closed after one day and Frazier was allowed back on campus.</p><p>Horne reopened her investigation on Jan. 9 after a mother delivered a letter to Manatee High in which her daughter accused Frazier of repeatedly groping her and asking for a nude photograph.</p><p>Horne requested a transfer to an assistant principal position on Jan. 24, and Martin took over the investigation, in addition to his duties as assistant superintendent.</p><p>At that time the district released scant information about the investigation and appeared to downplay the seriousness of the allegations.</p><p>On Feb. 5, Interim Superintendent David Gayler confirmed that there was an investigation but said it was “based on rumors and innuendos about inappropriate relationships with students.”</p><p>“This is an investigation that appears to be almost done,” Gayler said. “Scott agreed to finish it up for Deb.”</p><p>Martin also said at the time that the inquiry would wrap up soon. But the district halted the investigation after the police became involved on Feb. 7 — the same day the Herald-Tribune ran a story about the district's investigation of Frazier. Before then, neither police nor the state hot line had been notified about suspicion of child abuse, as required by law.</p><p>Police interviewed more than 50 parents, students and teachers about allegations of groping before making recommendations for charges in April.</p><p>Gagnon quickly ascended the school ranks in the Manatee County school district after starting as an assistant director for the Police Athletic League Charter School in 2000. After reportedly being laid off two years later, he served as assistant principal at Lakewood Ranch and Palmetto high schools,</p><p>In 2007, he was named principal of Manatee High School, where he was later lauded for bumping the school's state grade up from a D to an A in one year. In 2012, he was named assistant superintendent by former Superintendent Tim McGonegal.</p><p>McGonegal also recommended Martin's promotion from staff attorney to assistant superintendent in 2011, though it was protested by board members Julie Aranibar and Karen Carpenter.</p><p>Martin had been in the district for a year.</p><p>Both Martin and Gagnon were displaced from their assistant superintendent positions this spring when Mills hired new deputy superintendents shortly after starting here in March.</p><p>While Martin took over an empty staff attorney position, Gagnon remained an unassigned assistant superintendent because a clause he negotiated in his contract when he briefly served as interim superintendent protects him from losing his $124,000 position without cause.</p><p>Faller and Kane have transferred this year to Palmetto High and Southeast High, respectively. Horne remains an interim assistant principal at Prine Elementary, where she transferred to in January.</p>